Wire-stretcher.



- r PATENIED OCT. 6,1903.

P. M. D ST; 7 WIRBSTR CHER. APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 27, 1902,

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UNITED STATES harem-ed October 6, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

PETER M. DARST, OF RACINE, OHIO, ASSIGNOR. OE ONE-HALF TO JAMES H. HARPOLD, OF-COTTAGEVILLE, WEST VIRGINIA.

WlRE-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 740,630, dated October 6, 1903.

Application filed August 27, 1902. Serial No. 121,257. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER M. DARST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Racine, in the county of Meigs and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Wire-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in wire-stretchers; and the object of the same is to produce a tool which is simple in construction, cheap to manufacture, and effective in operation.

A further object of the invention is to produce atool which when in operationwill cause the clamping member, which latter is loosely connected at one end of the body portion, to

be drawn into a recess or cavity formed between the seat part and the end of the body portion, the body portion itself being so arranged and bent as to form the recess.

To this end my invention consists in certain details of construction and the arrangement of the several parts, as hereinafter fully described and claimed and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 represents a plan view of the tool applied to a" post with the clamping member extending forward from the body before the tool is drawn into position and locked. Fig. 2 represents a plan view showing the tool in a locked and operative position with the clamping member drawn into a recess formed between the terminal end of the body portion and the post-seat. Fig. 3 represents an enlarged detail view of the outer end of'the lever, showing the locking-hook.

Referring more particularly ings, tion or handle member, which is provided near one end with a curved oifset or seat 11, adapted to partially surround a post which is indicated at 12.

The body portion 10 is provided at the end adjacent to the post-seat 11 with an inclined portion or projection 10, which extends away from the body portion'lO in an oblique direction, the terminal end 14 of said projection to the drawbeing bent inward, so as to form a recess or cavity between the terminal end and the postseat for a purpose hereinafter set forth, said inclined portion 10 and the inturned end 14 the numeral 10 designates the body per 7 post and both standing in the same plane as the body portion 10.

16 designates a clamping member, which is provided with a projection 17, integral therewith and extending from the face thereof at a substantially right angle thereto. Pivotally mounted on a base portion, as at 19, is a cam member 20, provided with an operatinghandle 21, the movement of which causes the cam 20 to cooperate with the projection 17 for clamping or releasing the wire, which latter is indicated at 22.

Pivoted to the extremity of the terminal end 14, as at 23, is a link or connecting member the free end of which is swiveled to the base of the clamping member, as at 18, and said link serves to retain the clamping member at all times in the same plane as the body portion 10, the oblique projection 10', and the said inturned terminal end 14:. The'clamping member ferred form; but it is to be understood that any construction of clamp may be used With' out departing from the spirit of my invention. At the free or forward end of the body portion 10 is a hook 15, which extends upward therefrom at a substantially right angle thereto and is adapted to engage the run ner-wire 22 to lock the tool in position against the post when the wire is under a tension.

The operation of my improved tool is as follows: After the body portion of the tool has been placed against the rear face of the post the wire-clamp is extended forward and the wire clamped therein by means of the cam 20, as shown in Fig. 1. The free end of the body portion 10 is then brought around the given a forward pressure,which will cause the clamping member to draw the wire against the fence-post, and at the same time the inturned extremity 14 of the terminal end 10 will cause the clamping member itself to be drawn into the recess or cavity which is formed between the inturned end and th e postseat. This also allows the clamping member to be held firmly in position and in the same plane as the body portion of the tool. The book 15 at the free end of the body portion 10 is then hooked over the runner-wire 22, and the tool is secured firmly in position with which I have shown is my pre- 7 the wire under a heavy tension. This construction also prevents the tool from crimping or bending the Wire 22, and as the Wire is held securely against the post a staple can be readily driven into the post astride the Vlle.

I claim as my invention A device of the class described consisting of a bar having a body portion provided with a curved post-seat intermediate of its ends, an inclined portion adjacent the post-seat extending away from the body portion in the same plane therewith and oblique thereto, the terminal end thereof being bent inward, and

my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

PETER M. DARST. lVitnesses:

VERNA EWING, PORTER MIDKIFF. 

